Parents often ask, “what is the best toys for their child?" naturally only wanting the best for their little ones. But the toy market is vast and one that focuses more on making profits and less on encouraging developmental growth for the children that play with their products. Something I had noticed many years before ever having my own child was that children who had toys with flashy lights, loud sounds, were battery operated, and bright colored typically developed slower as opposed to children who had fewer toys and had toys that required more hands-on thinking and didn’t over stimulate. I saw how those who were encouraged to play with simpler toys would build valuable motor skills at an earlier age, talk sooner, and understand the concept of basic life skills sooner. From early on, I knew I wanted this for my children and as we prepared for the arrival of our firstborn I researched much into the different toys that encouraged this healthy play and development for children. I quickly fell in love with the Montessori method, seeing the connection with my own childhood and how my parents incorporated many of these practices into our own playtime. Now, the one thing Montessori toys have, that you could say is discouraging, is the price tag. Yes, they are more expensive, but for a good reason. For one, these toys are made out of wood, naturally making them a higher-cost item. But there are some benefits that are worth exploring with these higher-cost toys.
The fact that they are made out of wood automatically makes them a more environmentally friendly toy as opposed to the plethora of plastic toys that are made by major toy companies which only harm our environment. On top of being environmentally friendly, wood is much healthier for children to play with because they don’t have any chemicals or BPA components that parents often worry about. The other reason wooden toys are better is they actually allow children to strengthen their senses by allowing them to discover the reality of different objects. Basically, children will be able to understand the concept of weight, size, and shape because wooden toys allow a realistic understanding of what an object is truly like. If a baby is holding two wooden balls and one is larger than the other, the baby will be able to feel the weight difference because the larger ball has a bigger mass and therefore weighs more. However, you can’t teach this with plastic toys because typically plastic toys are made to weigh less in order to be cheaper and easier to handle. A large ball will often weigh the same as a significantly smaller ball. When you manipulate the properties of a common object with plastic, you eliminate the opportunity for your child to learn basic skills and knowledge at an early age.
Another reason the higher cost of Montessori toys can be justified is their durability and craftsmanship. These toys will last not just one kid, but several more, and perhaps even a few generations. Typically wooden toys are made with Birch, which is a wood that is tougher and less prone to splinters and cracks. Not only will a wooden toy take on the wear and tear a child can give it, but it will be smooth and safe for kids to enjoy and for parents to have one less worry. The craftsmanship wooden toys bring is also one that can benefit any child. Kids will learn to appreciate a toy’s natural beauty and its uniqueness. Many of the toys that are mass-produced are flashy and overstimulating, which can have a negative effect on a kid. This overwhelms their senses, whereas wooden toys are more subtle and allow the child to be attracted to it and enjoy it in a calmer and peaceful way without overstimulating them.
Now, after understanding how wooden toys play a significant role in the development of a child from early on, I was even more in love with them and wanted to find a way to be able to provide them for our children without necessarily paying the higher price. While there is always a cheaper option, I realized that I could still pay for quality if I learned to not depend on quantity. The baby market is huge, and there is so much stuff out there that everyone says you absolutely need. Baby bouncers, walkers, wipe warmer, three different baby swings, and so on. The fact is, less is more. You would be surprised just how much excess there is that we can easily do without. From the beginning we didn’t want excess, so we only asked for the necessary, and when it came to the toys, we would focus on picking those ourselves as our daughter would grow.
So my strategy would be to research the toys that would fit with the Montessori method and be age appropriate for whatever stage our daughter was in. I turned to good-old Amazon to find a similar, but more affordable price on many of the toys we liked. The goal was still to find wooden toys with child-safe paints and coating, while not being too busy in color and would still encourage motor and cognitive development. It wasn’t just wooden toys I would search for, but various other toys and baby gear that aligned with the Montessori method. This does require a little more time and energy since you have to research. But if you’re like me and didn’t want to pay for the top brand or a toy subscription, then spending a few minutes looking pays off. I still paid a little more for certain toys compared to your typical Fisher-Price options. Not dissing Fisher-Price. But while I was paying more, I knew I was getting more. We don’t have many toys for our little girl and really she doesn’t need it. With the few toys she has she has learned valuable skills at an early age and has learned to really play with the toys she has and not be overwhelmed by too many options.
We’ve also picked toys that will last a while and that she will grow into or learn to play in different ways as she ages. Mind we are not strict Montessori fanatics, there are a few things that are pretty common baby toys and gear that most people have. But even those items have taken some thought and research to ensure we were giving our child overall healthy toys. I see it as an investment. An investment in not just my firstborn’s education and life skills, but to any other future children we may have. So if you’re in the same boat as me and want to give your kids some healthy developmental toys but are having trouble finding which ones are best, here is our top ten toys for the first year that have been not just a big hit with our daughter, but we have seen the motor and cognitive results from her playing with these.
1. Montessori Play Kit: This has been a huge hit in our house. This 4-in-1 toy has been one that our daughter has used since she was seven months. In that time she has learned many motor skills and creative thinking as she finds new ways to play with it. It has been great for getting her to strategically think and get those wheels turning. Amazon.com: Montessori Toddler Play Kit Montessori Box Toys for 1 Year Old 2 Years Baby Learning Toys Gift Carrot Harvest Game, Matchstick Color Drop Game and Coin Box (3-for-1)
2. Collete the Duck Plush: This one buy was possibly more for myself than for our daughter. It just fit so well with her nursery theme and is just adorable. But it proved to be a great buy as this is one of her favorite dolls. She will typically grab it off the dresser in the mornings and talk with it in her crib after waking up. Just too cute! MON AMI – Mon Ami (monami-designs.com)
3. Eric Carle Books: If there’s one series of books you can never go wrong with, it’s Eric Carle’s. These books were so well designed for babys with it’s simple illustrations and colorful animals. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Board book – September 15, 1996
4. Maileg Bambi Doll: This vintage doll is a great small doll for babies as it’s lightweight and measures only 10 inches. Perfect for playing in the earlier months and car rides. Sleepy Wakey Bambi, Medium - Maileg USA
5. Wooden Stacking Rings: This play set is one that has been great for the 10 and 11 month stage. As our most recent purchase, we already see how our daughter is getting the hang of stacking the rings. Amazon.com: GEMEM Stacking Rings Toy Wooden Rainbow Stacker Toddler Learning Toys for 18 Months 2 Year Old Baby Boys Girls Non-Toxic
6. Mushie Cups: How funny it is that kids are so easily entertained with cups. These were perfect for our road trip as they allowed our daughter to have something that made her think as she fit them inside of each other and kept her entertained for some time. Amazon.com: mushie Stacking Cups Toy | Made in Denmark (Original)
7. Wooden Baby Gym: Not only was this a beautiful play gym with its simplistic design, but it was easy to store. So much baby gear is big and bulky making it hard to store. Yet this one was foldable and easy to put away, taking up very little room. Just laying a warm blanket on the ground for some tummy time, this set was a hit. Amazon.com : Wooden Baby Gym with 6 Wooden Baby Toys Foldable Baby Play Gym Frame Activity Gym Hanging Bar Newborn Gift Baby Girl and Boy Gym (Natural Color) : Baby
8. Manhattan Musical Forest Trio: Our daughter loves music and so naturally instruments were a must. This cute set is one she will continue to grow into as she grows and understands the concept more. But she already loves shaking these and understands they make music. Manhattan Toy Musical Forest Trio 3 Piece Wooden Toy Set for Toddlers with Bear Rattle, Llama Clacker & Hedgehog Guiro
9. Sophie the Giraffe: Of course we had to have Sophie, after all this is a classic. This proved to be the perfect teether and a toy for car rides that never gets old. Amazon.com: Sophie La Girafe- Gift Set Award
10. SuperJare Playmat: Having a soft surface for our little one to play on was very important especially in winter when the floor is cold. This mat was perfect for that and for those early starges of crawling. The best part is this mat will be a great toy as she gets older with its puzzle and assembly features. She already enjoys pulling it apart and trying to fit things together. Building the occasionally fort has also proven to be a fun way to play. Amazon.com : SUPERJARE 25 Pieces Baby Play Mat, Thick Interlocking Foam Floor Tiles with 9 Patterns, Non Toxic Crawling Mat for Playroom & Nursery, Neutral Color for Infants, Baby & Toddler
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